General Delegation of Kenya

On July 16, the Solemn Commemoration of our Lady of Mount Carmel, in our house in Nairobi (Bustani ya Karmeli), the Prior General, accompanied by the Councillor for Africa, Fr. Désiré Unen Alimange, consigned the decree of canonical erection of the General Delegation of Kenya, which will be under the patronage of Our Lady of Carmel. The first General Delegate is Fr. Boniface Makau Kimondolo (Cat). Fr Fernando emphasised the importance of this occasion for the history of Carmel in Kenya and in the African continent.During the celebrations the generous contribution to this mission on the part of four provinces was recalled: Upper Germany, Arago-Valentina, Catalonia and India.The first assembly of the Delegation was also held during which both short term and medium term objectives were set for this promising presence in Africa.There are now four General Delegations in the Order: France, “Titus Brandsma” in Colombia, Bohemia and Moravia and now Kenya.The Prior General also took advantage of the occasion to present a letter which will be shortly sent to the Carmelite Family entitled “A Purchased People”. This is to mark the 50th anniversary of a letter by the same name written by the Carmelite Bishop, Mons. Donal Lamont, against apartheid. In the letter, Fr Fernando calls on Carmel to encourage growth in Africa.

As Carmelites We live our life of allegiance to Jesus Christ and to serve Him faithfully with a pure heart and a clear conscience through a commitment to seek the face of the living God (the contemplative dimension of life), through prayer, through fraternity, and through service (diakonia). These three fundamental elements of the charism are not distinct and unrelated values, but closely interwoven.

All of these we live under the protection, inspiration and guidance of Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, whom we honor as "our Mother and sister."